New system concerns grant recipients
Social grants recipients will provide proof of life before receiving their monthly grant salary.
MONTHS after social grant recipients had difficulties with their new South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) cards, leaving pensioners and people suffering ill-health without their monthly pay, they are now faced with another challenge.
According to SASSA, all grant beneficiaries are required to provide a proof of life before receiving their grant every month. Elderly and unhealthy people in wheelchairs will now have to use voice activation and finger verification to activate their funds.
Concerned pensioners said they don’t trust the system anymore, and fear they might not get their money.
Phethile Mthethwa, a mother of two from eSikhaleni area, said she had not been informed of the change and worried about her children’s well-being.
‘I don’t trust the system anymore, and I don’t even know if they will stop my grant. I haven’t even heard anything about this voice activation thing,’ said Phethile.
A visit to the local SASSA office proved recipients did not know anything regarding the issue.
Staff at Ngwelezane office also appeared to be clueless regarding the matter and had no idea how the new system worked.
Voice activation and finger print verification
SASSA provincial senior communications officer Vusumuzi Mahye said the new system is designed to eliminate fraudulent activities and ensure that the right person has access to the funds.
‘This system will make sure the money goes to the right person. Those who receive money at payout stations and supermarkets will undergo the finger verification every time before they get paid. Those who use bank card with PIN numbers will do the voice activation. Beneficiaries are required to contact 0860 690717 when they use Telkom, cellphones or public phones,’
‘They can also use 082 1277 when using a Vodacom Starter Pack number. These starter packs were handed out to some beneficiaries during the re-registration. It’s a free call that can be used every month to do the voice verification,’
He added that those who prefer to receive a free starter pack must go to their nearest SASSA offices, and follow the voice prompt instructions. The verification can be done in English, IsiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, TsiVendaor isiXhosa.
‘Once the voice been verified, the system will inform the beneficiary and the grant be available immediately’ he said.
